Tips

Extra, extra! Read all about it!I wasn't always such a twisted and depraved soul. In many ways, it was the world of background acting that opened me up to the fun and fascinating film industry and all the sordid bits that entails. For those who are curious about what goes on behind the scenes or want to get involved, let this serve as an introduction (or perhaps an admonition) to those considering making the leap into the wild world of background acting. For the legions of people who know m...

Some time ago, an acquaintance at my local coffee house made the following comment about a writer’s life, quoting Gustave Flaubert: “Be steady and well-ordered in your life so that you can be fierce and original in your work.” I had been living this way for some time. As I worked and put myself through graduate school, I made time to write. Writing had been part of my life for over a decade. So what does it mean to be “steady and well-ordered in life so that you can be fierce and original” i...

Hi, Everyone! Welcome back to the Dear Bradley Vlog. Every month I'm going to be answering your most burning filmmaking questions. If you have one, please submit your questions in the comments below or via Instagram @Bradley_Gallo. Be very specific and I will personally answer your question the best I can. Some answers will come in long form and others in a lightening round (multiple questions with 15 second answers). Some of you will have the same question and so we will combine those. So ask...

As an artist, you live in a very unique world. You get to express the fullness of who you are. You have the opportunity to leave something meaningful behind that will impact generations. It’s a privilege to bring value to the world simply by expressing and living your passion. At the same time, you take on unique challenges. Your artistic life is filled with pressure, rejection, competition, and unknowns. You have to have courage, show up, and take risks... You also have to know when to say “...

Happy Sunday, everyone. Hope your day is off to a fantastic start and that you've been active, contributing, and making some invaluable connections right here on Stage 32. This Sunday we want to offer an edition of Coffee & Content that focuses on capturing the dramatic and fast actions of sport. Films like I, Tonya and the iconic Rocky films capture some powerful and theatrical moments on camera, and need to do so without losing the fast action or art of the shot. So first up, How to Sh...

When the book Van Gogh Blues was brought to my attention, I read it with fervor. I was still in my 30's and struggling to understand why creating, writing, and being artistic made me so damn sad sometimes. Not when I was in it, but when it seemed to reach an "endpoint." I allowed myself to accept that creativity and depression were linked, and carried on through my creative endeavors with as much positivity and freshness as possible. Of course, there are times I still struggle. Perhaps we...

The fireworks are over and it's a brand new day, but we still have lots to celebrate here at Stage 32, not the least of which are our regular blog post guest contributors. We are, in fact, grateful for every single post that has ever come our way, regular contributor or not. All of our contributors selflessly offer their time and expertise to all of you, so that our community can grow with inspiration and education. Without these posts, so many of us would still be browsing other sites seeki...

Marty Eli Schwartz is an Assistant Director on films like Night at the Museum and The Leisure Seeker. Stage 32 caught up with him at Film Con in Hollywood where he shared advice on how to become an assistant director in Hollywood.   Click Here For Marty's Advice!       Remember, if you haven't subscribed to our YouTube page, make sure you do so you don't miss any of our announcements. Let's hear your thoughts in the comments below! Got an idea for a post? Or have you collaborated w...

Happy Sunday, Creative Army! Summer's here, the coffee's on, and we've got some great content to go with it. So let's stir it up, shall we? First up, for those focusing on documentaries or a single subject, a strong reminder of the importance of the rule of thirds. The rule of thirds divides the frame into a 3X3 grid, with each intersecting point offering an ideal place to frame your subject. This, and five other video composition techniques are covered in our first video from B&H Photo Vide...

As writer's we continually search for fresh perspectives and angles when we put pen to paper. It goes without saying that "everything" has been written about, but what makes a serial drama worth watching is a unique angle with colorful characters who are willing to go places that we haven't been to in a long time, if at all. Like death. Some would argue that Dead to Me an Russian Doll do just that. On a personal note, I think Dead to Me speaks to death in a way that we haven't seen before...